Telegraph system



Nov. 28, 1933. J. H. BELL TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed Aug. 14. 1951 INVENTORJ. H. BELL A TTORNEY Patented Nov. 23, 1933 TELE GRAPH SYSTEM John H.Bell, South Orange, N. 3.,

assignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N'.Y.,. a corporation of New York Application August 14, 1931'. Serial No.556,958:

13 Claims.

This invention relates to telegraph systems and more particularly totelegraph systems including recorders embodying a character type carrierhaving the types arranged in two groups.

It has been usual to arrange the character types in different alignmentson the type carrier, in an upper and a lower case, and with the usualfive-unit code it has been necessary to transmit a special shift signalfor the alignment of the characters in a single line on the printingsurface. However, in certain instances, as for examples, in the case ofquotation service, the shift from one case to the other occurs sofrequently that the loss of line time due to the shift signals isconsiderable.

it has been proposed to adapt a six-unit code for quotation service,whereby special shift si nals would be eliminated with a considerabl aing of line time. "With such an arrangement it is possible to utilize asingle six-unit signal combination for not only selecting a position of.the type carrier but also to cause the proper shifting operations inaccordance with the case of the transmitted character.

It is an object of the invention to utilize a signal code for theselection of any one of a plurality of character types arranged in twogroups on the type carrier of a recording device and at the same timefor initiating the shift operations in accordance with the similarity ordissimilarity of two of the signal units in a series of impulsescomprising a code signal.

Another object of the invention is the printing of characters arrangedin upper and lower case on the type wheel in a single line in responseto a six-unit code, and the relative shifting of type carrier andprinting surface in response to a difference or similarity between thesettings of two members of two permutation units in a recorder.

In accordance with the invention, a telegraph printer when adapted foroperation by a six-unit code may have a type wheel with as many as 64different types arranged in two rows on its periphery corresponding tothe upper and lower cases, the types being paired so that the type wheelbe positioned in 32 diiierent printing positions responsive to thesetting of five units of the selecting mechanism; the sixth unit of theselecting mechanism operates jointly with one of the five units to closecircuit contacts for the electromagnetically operated shiftingmechanism, the contacts being so interconnected that the placing of bothof these two units either in marking or in spacing position will causeprinting in one case, say the upper case, whereas the (Cl. N E- 34)placing of these two units one in spacing and the other in markingposition, will result in printing in the other case.

The invention in its preferred form will be described in connection withthe attached drawing in which:

Fig. l is a schematic representation of a quotation service system ofthe start-stop type having a common transmitting station and a lineincluding a plurality of receiving stations, and showing in a simplifiedexploded view only enough or" a six-unit recording device for anunderstand.- ing of the invention;

Figs. 2 -A and B are views showing the relations between certainelements of a selecting unit of the recording device under marking andspacing conditions, respectively, viewed from the rear of the machine asshown in Fig. 1.

Inasmuch as the details of the general selecting mechanism shown in thedrawing do not form a part of the invention, it is believed to besufficient for a clear understanding of the invention and its operationto describe the operation of this mechanism in conjunction with thedetailed description or" parts and operations more closely related tothe invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the line L includes a plurality of receivingrelays R, R-1, etc. and a transmitting station TS. The transmittingstation TS includes a transmitter T of any known type arranged for asix-unit code, having six transmitting contacts included in the linecircuit through a transmitting distributor D of the start-stop type. Theline circuit forms a closed loop connecting battery B through thesegments of distributor D, contacts of transmitter T, the windings inseries of all the relays "R. When the distributor D is in its stopposition, as shown, this loop circuit is closed by the brush armbridging the common ring and the marking segment MS and all thereceiving relays are operated to marking position. Transmission isstarted whenever a circuit (not shown) is closed in a known manner bythe operation of the start magnet SM which releases the brush arm of thedistributor. Upon leaving its normal position, the brush arm passes overthe spacing segment SS, whereby a spacing signal is transmitted over theloop causing all the receiving relays to release to spacing position.The brush arm thereafter passes over segments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 insuccession causing the receiving relays to operate in accordance withthe combination of open and closed contacts set up in the transmitno terT. The brush arm finally comes to a stop on the marking segment MS,again closing the loop circuit and thus completing the transmission of acharacter.

Referring now to the reception of such a series of permutation signalsby any one of the receiving stations the operation of receiving relay Ris transferred to a polarized printer magnet PM which controls all theoperations of the printing device for the selection of a desiredcharacter and for the printing in a single line of the charactersarranged in upper and lower cases.

With the printer magnet PM in the marking position as shown, a spring101, exerting a pull on pivoted lever 102, applies a pressure to theleft on a flutter disk 103 which in turn causes the horizontal arm 105of the flutter lever 104 to rest against the armature of the printingmagnet PM. When the first spacing signal is received, the armature ofprinting magnet PM goes to the right, thereby removing the stop for thearm 105. The flutter disc 103 is fixedly mounted on a cam drum 110 whichforms a sleeve slidably mounted on the selector shaft 111, but arrangedto rotate with the shaft; thus in response to the operation of theprinter magnet PM the flutter disc 103 and with it the cam drum 110,moves a distance to the left under the pressure of spring 101 until theleft-hand end of the cam drum engages the fixed stop 112.

The selector shaft 111 is intermittently driven in a direction shown bythe arrow at its righthand end through a friction coupling 113 andproper gearing from a constantly revolving motor shaft 114 connected toa motor (not shown) however, the shaft is prevented from rotating by astop arm 115 fastened to the cam drum 110 and the free end of whichengages a fixed stop 116; when as described, the cam drum 110 moves tothe left, the stop arm 115 disengages the stop 116, thus permitting therotation of shaft 111 and cam drum 110.

The flutter disc 103 has along its periphery a series of corrugations,seven in number, for the purpose of fluttering the lever 104 seven timesas the disc makes one revolution, thereby causing the horizontal arm 165of flutter lever 104 to move up and down; however, when due to thesignals the armature of the printer magnet PM moves to the left, thedownward movement of the arm 105 is prevented and the lever 104 causesthe cam drum 110 to flutter in an axial direction on the selector shaft111 due to the interaction between the corrugations in the flutter discand the prongs at the lower end of the lever 104. The speed of rotationof the selector shaft 111 is timed so that each of the seven raisedportions or corrugations of the flutter wheel will raise arm 105 oncefor each unit impulse received over the loop circuit with the resultthat each marking pulse in a signal combination will place the cam drum110 towards the right for the time of its duration, whereas each spacingpulse will place the cam drum towards the left for the time of itsduration. Thus as the cam drum 110 makes one revolution it will passthrough seven periods corresponding to the duration of seven-unitimpulses and in each period it will be either to the right or to theleft, depending on whether the corresponding unit pulse is a marking ora spacing pulse, respectively. Upon the completion of the transmissionof an impulse series, the cam drum will have completed a revolution and,due to the marking signal then being placed on the line, the cam drumwill move to the right in time for the stop arm 115 to engage the stop116 thereby bringing the cam drum 110 to a stop.

This fluttering operation of the cam drum 110 during a revolution inunison with the received signal pulses is effective in storing up asetting on the selecting or permutation mechanism in the printer inaccordance with the impulse combination transmitter. For this purpose,the cam drum 110 carries six pairs of camming lugs, namely, spacing lugs11 to 16 and marking lugs 21 to 26, the pairs of lugs being angularlyand progressively displaced with respect to each other at a spacingcorresponding to the angular spacing of the corrugations in flutter isc103. Each pair of camming lugs is furthermore aligned in the axialdirection with selector levers 31 to 36, which in turn cooperate withtransfer levers 41 to 46 for the setting of code discs 51 to 56. Thesetting of the code discs from the movements of cam drum 110 will bedescribed only in connection with the first permutation unit, shown atthe extreme right, which is responsive to the first impulse of a signalcombination received from the line, since the operation for setting theother code discs is the In this description reference will also be madeto Figs. 2-A and 2-B which illustrate a portion of the cam drum 110 withthe camming lugs 11 and 21 of the first unit and their cooperation withthe associated selector lever 31 in marking and spacing positionsrespectively of the cam drum 110. The spacing lug 11 is placeddiametrically opposite marking lug 21 on cam drum 110, but these lugsare axially displaced a small distance. The selector lever 31 has aspacing projection a aligned with the lug 11 when the cam drum is in thespacing position and a marking projection b aligned with the lug 21 whenthe cam drum 110 is in marking position; the spacing log 11 will clearboth projections a and b in marking position and marking lug 21 willclear 11 both projections a and b in the spacing position of the camdrum. The lugs are shaped to exert a camming action on these projectionsto impart a small angular movement to the selector lever 31 about itspivot point 120 whereby two other projections c and d on the selectorlever 31 are caused to take one of two positions. The projections c andd cooperate with projections e and 1 respectively of the transfer lever41 in such a manner that, in the case of marking, the projection cl isaligned with projection f and projection c is out of alignment withprojection e, whereas, in the case of spacing, projection c is alignedwith projection e and projection dis out of alignment with projection f.ihe transfer lever 41 12? is hinged on a bail 121 which may be raisedand lowered through the roller 122 from cam 123 mounted on the selectorshaft 111; the transfer lever 41 has a projection g fitted in a slot hout into the periphery of the code disc 51 for placing 1:5 the disc inone of two angular positions, the disc being rotatable about the shaft142.

During a complete revolution of cam drum 110 the pairs of camming lugswill pass in succession before corresponding projections on the selector13o levers and due to the fluttering of the drum in response to receivedsignals the lugs will operate the selector levers into their marking orspacing positions in accordance with the signals received. Shortlybefore the completion of the 115 revolution, the projection on cam 123will raise the roller 122 for an instant thereby raising the bail 121carrying all the transfer levers 41 to 46. With selector lever 31 inmarking position, as shown in Fig. 1, the projection d will be in theupward path of projection of the transfer lever 41, thereby imparting asmall angular displacement to the transfer lever, which in turn placesthe code disc 51 in its marking position; with the selector lever 31 inspacing position the projection 0 would be in the path of projection eof the transfer lever thereby placing the code disc in its spacingposition. In this manner all the code discs 51 to 56 are adjusted totheir spacing or marking positions in accordance with a received signalcombination.

Each of the code discs 51 to 56 has a plurality of notches cut into itsperiphery, and the arrangement of these notches is different in all thediscs so that any one of a plurality of stop pins 130 may be selected bycorresponding settings of these discs for positioning of the type wheel149. shown for one of the stop pins 130 these pins comprise a straightportion 131 which is forced into engagement with the notched peripheryof all the code discs by means of a spring 132. The other end of the pin130 is pivoted at 133.

For each setting of the discs one of the stop pins 130 will be admittedto its inward position, due to the'aligninent of thenotches associatedtherewith in the code discs, while all the other stop pins will be heldin their outward position by a raised portion of at least one of thecode discs. The selected stop pin thus enters into the path of the typewheel stop arm 141 which, together with type wheel 140, is mounted onthe type wheel shaft 142 driven through friction clutch 143 and gearingfrom motor shaft 114. The same setting of the code discs, which causedthe selective operation of the stop pin 130 referred to, is alsoinstrumental in releasing the stop arm 141 from its previous position inengagement with another stop pin 130, which is forced into its outerposition by the camming action of one or more of the notches. arm 1 1 byengagement with the stop pin 130 places a pair of types on the typewheel 140 corresponding to the received signal in alignment with theplaten 154 on the printing hammer 153 for printing.

In accordance with the invention, the sixth selecting unit associatedwith the cam drum 110 is made to operate a special code disc 56 whichdoes not cooperate in the selection of stop pins but is arranged tocooperate with the code disc for the control of the shift mechanism. Forthis purpose the discs 55 and 56 are provided with projections its andice respectively for operation of two sets of contact springs m5 and mewhich each comprise alternate contacts for completing a circuit frombattery through the shift magent UM through the contact sets in seriesto ground.

The type wheel 140 is mounted on a sleeve 14''] axially adjustable onthe shaft 142 for positioning of the type wheel in upper or lower caseunder the control of the shift magnet UM, the armature of which has afork at its upper end which fits into an annular groove 146 on thesleeve 147. Thus when the shift magnet UM is deenergized, the spring onits armature forces the sleeve 14'? towards the right against the stop148 on the type wheel shaft 14?. thereby placing the lower character tyes on the type wheel 140 in alignment with the platen 154 for printing;whereas when the shift magnet UM is energized its armature forces thesleeve 14? towards the sit for alignment of the upper case charactertypes with the platen 154. Inking roller 145 is placed in engagementwith the type wheel 140 The stopping of and is made to follow the axialmovements of the type wheel by being mounted in a cradle 149 which inturn may be slidably connected to the frame 150 to prevent the rollerfrom revolving about the type wheel. A printing tape 144 passes betweenthe type wheel 140 and platen 154 in the usual manner.

From inspection of the drawing, it may readily be seen that theconnections through the contact combinations m5 and me are so arrangedthat when the discs 55 and 56 are in spacing and marking positionsrespectively, as shown in the drawing, or inversely are in marking andspacing position respectively, the shift magnet UM will be energized toplace the type wheel in the 7 upper case, whereas when discs 55 and 56both are either in marking or in spacing position the shift magnet UMwill be deenergized and the type wheel 140 will be placed in the lowercase. shif operation takes place immediately upon the operation of thebail 121 after the reception of a complete signal combination. Aprinting cam 158 is arranged to be driven in unison with the selectorshift 111 by means (not shown) and to force the printing platen 154 intoengagement with the printing tape 144 and the type wheel 140 against thetension of spring 159 once for each revolution of the shaft 111, thetime of its operation being such that it will take place shortly afterthe type wheel has been positioned for printing.

.It should be understood that it is possible to arrange severalmodifications of the invention and, to combine the features illustratedand described in different ways other than those disclosed without adepartiu'e from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A telegraph printer comprising two groups of types, means responsiveto a combination of received impulses for selectively setting two typesfor printing, one from each group, and means for selecting the groupfrom which a character is to be printed, characterized in this that saidlast mentioned means is responsive tothe similarity or dissimilarity oftwo impulses said combination of received impulses.

2. A method of signaling by permutated impulses in code series whichcomprises the signaling of a code series of alternative impulsesrepresenting two symbols, setting two characters corresponding to saidtwo symbols for recording in response to said code series, anddistinguishing between the two characters by the similar and alternatenature of two of the impulses of said code series.

3. A method of telegraph signaling which comprises transmitting a seriesof alternative impulses forming a code representingtwo characters,transmitting an extra impulse with said series and recording one of saidtwo characters in accordance with the similarity and dissimilarity ofsaid extra impulse. and an impulse of said series.

4. A telegraph recording device'comprising a type carrier with typesarranged in pairs, a plurality of permutation units for the selection ofa pair of types, instrumentalities associated with said type carrier forthe recording of either type of a pair and control means associated witheach of two of said permutation units. and interconnected to cooperatein the control of said instrumentalities in accordance with thesimilarity or dissimilarity of the selected positions of said two itspermutation units for recording one or the other type, respectively, ofa pair.

5. A character recording device responsive to permutated charactersignals from a line circuit for printing in a single alignment ofcharacters arranged in upper and lower cases without separate shiftsignals, which comprises a rotating type carrier having two groups oftypes, electromagnetic means for shifting said type carrier intoprinting position for one or the other of said groups, circuit changingcontacts operative in response to two impulse units of a charactersignal received by said recording device from said line for control ofsaid electromagnetic means.

6. A character recording device responsive to a six-unit code, arotating type carrier, a plurality of character types on said carrierarranged in two different groups, electromagnetic means for shiftingsaid type carrier for printing in either group, six selecting units eachresponsive to a unit impulse of a signal, contacting means arranged tocooperate with two of said selecting units and connected to control theshifting of said type carrier by said electromagnetic means.

7. A character recording device responsive to a six unit code comprisinga rotating type carrier, a plurality of character types on said carrierarranged in two different groups, a tape for receiving type imprints ofsaid type in a single line, electromagnetic means forcontrolling therelative positions of said type carrier and said tape for printing ineither group of said types, six selecting units each responsive to aunit of said code, contacting means arranged to cooperate with two ofsaid selecting units and connected to said electromagnetic means tocontrol the relative positions of said tape and said type carrier.

8. A character recording device comprising a receiving distributor, apermutation mechanism associated therewith, a rotating type carrierpositioned in accordance with the setting of said permutation mechanism,a plurality of types arranged in two groups on said type carrier, a tapefor receiving type imprints from either of said groups of type, andelectromagnetic means associated with said permutation mechanism forcontrolling the relative position of said type carrier and tape inaccordance with the similarity or difference in the setting of two unitsof said permutation mechanism.

9. A character recording device in accordance with claim 8 wherein saidelectromagnetic means shifts the axial position of said type carrier forprinting types of either groups of types in a straight line.

10. A character recording device in accordance with claim 8characterized in this that the selection of one of the two groups oftypes for printing is made by axially shifting said type carrier by saidelectromagnetic means in accordance with the similarity or difference insetting of two of said permutation units.

11. In a telegraph printer responsive to multiunit permutation codesignals having two printing cases, electromagnetic means for selectingthe desired case in response to the similarity or difference of twounits of said multi-unit code.

12. A telegraph recording device responsive to a six-unit telegraphsignal comprising a rotary type carrier, a plurality of types arrangedin two rows around the periphery of said type carrier, means i orrecording and storing said six-unit telegraph signal on a set of sixpermutation units, means for selecting two of said types, one being ineach row in accordance with the setting of five of said permutationunits, contact springs associated with the fifth and sixth permutationunits, an electromagnet connected thereto for shifting said type carrierwhereby the desired type of said two types is selected in accordancewith the similarity or difference in the setting of said fifth and sixthpermutation units, a tape adapted to receive the imprint of said typeand means for printing the selected type in the selected row upon saidtape.

13. In a character recording device responsive to multi-unit telegraphsignals having a multiunit type selecting mechanism and a rotary typewheel with the type arranged in two rows around its periphery, means forshifting either of said rows of type into the printing positioncomprising a source of electric current, an electromagnet connectedthereto, an armature associated with said electromagnet adapted to shiftsaid type wheel, a plurality of contacts associated with said typeselecting mechanism and means for connect- 1.

ing said contacts to said electromagnet, whereby said electromagnet willshift said type wheel in accordance with the settings of two units ofsaid mechanism for any type selection.

JOHN H. BELL.

